End of the road: Otters beat Greyhounds (update)

Special teams was an issue all series and in the end, it cost the Soo Greyhounds.

The Erie Otters scored three power play goals as they beat the Soo Greyhounds 7-3 to clinch the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference title in six games.

The Otters scored a pair of power play goals in the second period on a five-minute man advantage after Greyhounds rookie Hayden Verbeek was hit with a major penalty for slew-footing. The play came as Verbeek took the feet out from under Erie goaltender Devin Williams 6:21 into the second period.

“That ultimately was the difference in this game but I don’t think it was the difference in the series considering we lost four games,” said Greyhounds Coach Sheldon Keefe. “Certainly it was a major point in the hockey game and we failed to get through that one.”

“It was a very accidental event,” Keefe said of the play. “It was a player that loses his balance, not a player that’s known for anything of the sort. Verbeek lost his balance and it made him lose control of his body and he made some contact with the back of their goalie’s legs. It’s a really tough call. The referees didn’t see it and it was the linesmen that made the call. I have the benefit of replay to see that he lost his balance. He had no intent but the league has really cracked down on those and there’s zero tolerance so it is what it is.”

The goals would give the Otters a 4-2 lead at the time and they would add a third power play goal in the final period to restore a two-goal lead.

“Coming out of the five-minute major, we showed signs of game four,” said Keefe,” which were not good. We fight our way through that to make it a one-goal game at 4-3 and then got another penalty. Certainly special teams and discipline were the difference in the series. That’s where we fell short as a group and as a coach I’ll take ownership for that.”

Otters rookie forward Alex DeBrincat scored three times while Connor McDavid had a goal and assisted on four others. Remi Elie and Travis Dermott picked up three assists each for Erie. Nicholas Baptiste, Jake Marchment and Nick Betz also scored.

“I think it’s fair to say their best player (Connor McDavid) was a force,” Keefe said. “He’s a difference-maker especially on special teams.”

Devin Williams made 23 saves for Erie.

Jared McCann, Darnell Nurse and Michael Bunting scored for the Greyhounds.

Netminder Brandon Halverson made 20 saves for Sault Ste. Marie.

Keefe spoke highly of Verbeek, He said he had not spoken to Verbeek about the penalty.

“I haven’t spoken to him other than to shake his hand and thank him for his efforts this season like I did everyone else,” said Keefe. “That kid is heart and soul all the way through. He’s the hardest working, most consistent player we have in terms of commitment to our team.”

The Otters now advance to the OHL final where they will face the winner of the Eastern Conference final between the North Bay Battalion and Oshawa Generals, which resumes on Sunday afternoon in North Bay. The Generals currently lead the series 3-2 after a 4-1 win on Friday night in game five.